In today’s fast-paced and advancing world, we tend to unfortunately forget about our past, heritage and roots. There were thousands and lakhs of individuals who selflessly lent a helping hand so we could live in peace today. India is one of the greatest economies in the world and this couldn’t have been achieved without the help of the people who fought and even gave up their lives for our freedom. On this Independence Day, as we celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, let’s remember these unsung heroes who worked behind the scenes during our freedom struggle.
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of Independence and history of its people and the struggle. The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on 12th March 2021 which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence and ended on 15th August 2022. As our respected prime minister Narendra Modi said, “The Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav means elixir of energy of independence; elixir of inspirations of the warriors of freedom struggle; elixir of new ideas and pledges; and elixir of Aatma nirbhar Bharat.”
Durga Devi is known as the woman who helped Bhagat Singh escape from Lahore after the assassination of police officer John P Saunders. However, in reality, that was only one aspect of her untiring efforts to see India free from the clutches of the British regime. Durga Devi Vohra was born on 7th October 1907 to a Gujarati family residing in Prayagraj. She was a prominent member of the 'Bhagat Singh Defence Committee', which was established to collect funds to finance the campaign and fight the case for the release of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. She was one of the few women revolutionaries who actively participated in the armed revolution against the ruling British Raj.
Rajendranath Lahiri was one of those unsung freedom fighters who lived the life of a revolutionary, challenging and desiring to break free from the past to establish the groundwork for a new society. He fought alongside a few others in the famous Kakori Conspiracy Case. On 17th December 1927, Lahiri was hanged in the Gonda District Jail (UP), two days before his specified execution date, because the British authorities feared that the revolutionaries would attempt yet another escape. Rajendra Nath Lahiri’s supreme sacrifice for the nation is commemorated every year on 17th December as Lahiri Diwas, in the district of Gonda. In tribute, his statue has also been installed in the Gonda District Jail.
Khudiram Bose was one of India’s youngest freedom fighters, and in the early 1900s, it was the public speeches of Aurobindo Ghose and Sister Nivedita that prompted him to join the freedom struggle. In 1905, during the Partition of Bengal, he became an active volunteer in the freedom movement. Khudiram was all of 15 when he first courted arrest for distributing pamphlets against the British administration. The entire community gathered around Bose when he was led handcuffed to the Muzaffarpur police station. Finally, after numerous trials and hearings, Khudiram was sentenced to death. Young Khudiram, at the age of eighteen, was executed on 11 August 1908, making him one of the youngest revolutionaries in India to be hanged by the British.
The British brutality towards leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Ganesh Savarkar, and others was agitating the people and infusing them with feelings of revenge and hatred. Jackson, who was then the District Collector of Nasik and known for his merciless ways, was identified as the prime target by the revolutionaries. A drama titled “Sharda” was enacted on stage. The play had reached midway, it was the intermission, and the audience was about to move around when, all of a sudden, the auditorium echoed with the sounds of gunshots. The guest of honour, the District Collector, had been shot dead, and the killing was carried out by a young 18-year-old Anant Lakshman Kanhere. As per the plan, Anant Kanhere was supposed to kill himself after shooting Jackson. Though Anant successfully eliminated Jackson, he was caught before he could end his own life. In his testimony during the trial, he is believed to have said, “I carried out this act on my own without anyone’s help or guidance.” Such was his determination to keep his comrades out of the conspiracy.
The “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” festival, which honours the efforts and accomplishments made since India’s independence and honours its 75-year growth, also marks the start of celebrations for India 2047. It aims to make India the ‘Vishwa Guru’ once again. India is a massive country with great potential. Let’s put our hands together to make our country, the India of our dreams.
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